Construction of a prognostic risk-scoring model based on SASP-related genes in patients with skin cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a highly aggressive and deadly subtype of skin cancer. Lack of efficient biomarkers for prognosis has limited the improvement of survival outcome for patients with SKCM.

Methods: In this study, we obtained RNA-seq data from TCGA and GTEx databases, followed by identification of differential expressed genes, univariate Cox regression, and LASSO regression to identify prognostic SASP-related genes in the TCGA datasets and constructed a prognostic risk-scoring model.

CD73 inhibitor AB680 suppresses glioblastoma in mice by inhibiting purine metabolism and promoting P2RY12 microglia transformation.

CD73 (ecto-5'-nucleotidase) is a metabolic immune checkpoint that dephosphorylates AMP to produce adenosine. Adenosine plays a pivotal role in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) through adenosine receptors expressed on various immune cells. AB680, a specific CD73 inhibitor, is currently undergoing clinical trials for highly refractory cancers.

Construction of a Prognostic Model based on CSC-related Genes in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and deadly malignancies. Lack of efficient biomarkers for prognosis has limited the improvement of survival outcome in patients with CRC. Numerous studies have demonstrated the important roles of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in both treatment resistance and disease recurrence of CRC.

Empiric embolization by vasospasm therapy for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: a preliminary report.

To report the preliminary result of empiric embolization for angiographycally-negative lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) by using the pharmaco-induced vasospasm technique with or without the adjunctive use of intra-arterial multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). 23 LGIB patients with positive MDCT findings but negative angiographic results underwent empiric pharmaco-induced vasospasm therapy. The presumed bleeding artery was semi-selectively catheterized, and a segment of bowel was temporarily spasmed with bolus injection of epinephrine and immediately followed by 4-h' vasopressin infusion.

Prognostic Evaluation of Conversion Therapy following Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy or Immunotherapy in Patients with Advanced or Transarterial Chemoembolization Unsuitable Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Patients with advanced-stage or intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) unsuitable for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) had poor prognoses. Recent advancements in hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated higher tumor response rates, which improved overall survival (OS). HAIC achieves an OS rate of approximately 14.

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with major portal vein invasion: Therapeutic outcomes of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy vs concurrent radiotherapy.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with major portal vein invasion (MPVI) presents very poor outcomes. Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and radiation therapy (RT) have both been found to be effective for advanced HCC. In this retrospective study, we compared the therapeutic outcomes of our "new" HAIC regimen with and without concurrent RT, before and after propensity score matching (PSM) in treating HCC patients with MPVI.

Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis and the Risk of Developing Incidental Tuberculosis: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

: Treatment for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) must deal with immunosuppression, as well as infections associated with a compromised immune system, such as tuberculosis (TB). Our aim was to examine the risk of incidental TB after diagnosis of AAV. : This retrospective population-based cohort study was based on the data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

New Regimen of Combining Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy and Lipiodol Embolization in Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Main Portal Vein Invasion.

Background: The prognosis of HCC patients with main portal vein invasion (Vp4) is poor. We retrospectively reviewed the therapeutic outcomes with our new HAIC regimen in treating Vp4 HCC patients.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-one patients received the new regimen of combining HAIC (daily infusion of cisplatin (10 mg/m), mitomycin-C (2 mg/m) and Leucovorin (15 mg/m) plus 100 mg/m of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) using an infusion pump for 5 consecutive days) with Lipiodol embolization between 2002 and 2018.

Pulsatility index-adjusted doppler flow measurement of pedal arteries in peripheral artery disease patients.

Background: To examine the feasibility of using pulsatility index-adjusted (PI) flow equations to accurately characterize blood volume flow changes using Doppler technique in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) before and after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).

Methods: PTA was performed on 17 PAD patients (23 target vessels treated, 16 anterior tibial arteries, and 7 posterior tibial arteries). Arterial diameter, peak systolic velocity, PI, time-averaged mean velocity, and measured volume flow (MVF) of dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) and common plantar artery (CPA) were measured with duplex Doppler ultrasound before and after PTA.

Primary Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Porto-Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis (PMVT) in Non-Cirrhotic Patients.

To report our thrombolytic technique, treatment strategy, and clinical outcomes for porto-mesenteric venous thrombosis (PMVT) in non-cirrhotic patients. Sixteen acute or chronic non-cirrhotic PMVT patients (mean age: 48.6 years) with imminent intestinal ischemia were enrolled from 2004 to 2020.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and incident malignancy in chronic kidney and end-stage renal disease: A population-based study.

Research investigating incident malignancy risk in erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) users with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is lacking. We aimed to compare the incident cancer risk between ESA and non-ESA users with CKD or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In this retrospective cohort study, all adults newly diagnosed with CKD or ESRD between 2000 and 2012 were enrolled.

Management of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding by pharmaco-induced vasospasm embolization therapy.

Background: To report the clinical outcomes of vasospasm embolization technique in treating lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB).

Methods: Fifty LGIB patients (32 men and 18 women; mean age, 70.4 years) with positive contrast extravasation on multidetector computed tomography were treated with pharmaco-induced vasospasm embolization by semiselective catheterization technique.

Complete Response in Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Cardiac and Lung Involvement via Multimodality Treatment.

: Until recently, advanced HCC patients with major vessel and cardiac involvement have had an extremely poor prognosis without satisfactory treatment. : A 63-year-old Taiwanese male presented with metastatic HCC with RA and IVC thrombi, as well as pulmonary metastases that were successfully treated by multimodal management, encompassed by surgical thrombectomy, concurrent systemic sorafenib and locoregional therapies, and immunotherapy. The patient has achieved a complete response over the past 33 months.

Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy Followed by Lipiodol Infusion for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus: A Single-Center Experience.

: To evaluate the effectiveness of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) followed by lipiodol infusion in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). : Thirty-two patients with advanced HCC and PVTT who received HAIC with regimens of cisplatin, mitomycin-C, and 5-fluorouracil followed by lipiodol infusion were enrolled. The primary efficacy endpoint was tumor response rate.

Endovascular management of aorto-iliac occlusive disease (Leriche syndrome).

Background: Bypass grafting is the standard of care for chronic aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD, aka Leriche Syndrome) but is associated with mortality rates of up to 25% if surgical re-intervention is necessary. Despite a recent shift towards an endovascular-first strategy for TransAtlantic InterSociety Consensus II ("TASC II") C and D lesions, reports from Leriche Syndrome are still limited.

Patients And Methods: 15 high-risk patients (11 male, 4 female), mean age of 60.

Undersized stent graft for treatment of cephalic arch stenosis in arteriovenous hemodialysis access.

Cephalic arch stenosis (CAS) is a common cause of AV dialysis access failure and is notoriously difficult to treat with conventional venoplasty. Although stent graft (SG) placement has improved patency rate, they are prone to stent failure caused by edge stenosis. We investigate the effect of SG diameter relative to cephalic vein on patency rate among hemodialysis patients with dysfunctional arteriovenous access caused by CAS.

[Mineral Characteristics of Arsenic in the Active Area of the Banbishan Gold Mine and Its Effect on Arsenic Accumulation in Farmland Soil].

To explore the source and pollution characteristics of soil arsenic, mineralogy and chemical analysis methods were used to analyze the ore, waste rock, sediment, and river and soil samples around the mining area. Under a polarized light microscope, As-bearing mineral-arsenopyrite was found in the soil, ore, and waste rock around the Banbishan gold mine. Moreover, arsenopyrite in the waste rock has already experienced weathering and oxidation, and the oxidized arsenopyrite easily migrates and is released in the soil, which is potentially harmful.

Network meta-analysis of treatment regimens for inoperable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein invasion.

Purpose: We assessed the efficacy and safety of different modalities using the network meta-analysis for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein invasion. The interested modalities included stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), three-dimensional radiotherapy (3D-RT) combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) or TACE, TACE plus sorafenib, and use of SBRT, HAIC, sorafenib, and TACE alone.

Methods: PubMed and Cochrane Library electronic databases were systematically searched for eligible studies published up to June 2017.

[Relationship between NLRP1 and Liver Dysfunction Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation].

Objective: To explore the effect of NLRP1 on the liver dysfunction following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT).

Methods: The mouse model of allo-HSCT was established by using C57BL/6 and NLRP mice were used as the recipients: BABL/c mice were used as donors). The chimera rates of donor's bone marrow cells were assayed by flow cytometry.

The Complication of Hepatic Artery Injuries of 1,304 Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage in a Single Institute.

Purpose: To determine frequency of and assess risk factors for hepatic artery (HA) injury during percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and to discuss the technique and report the clinical outcome of embolization for HA injury.

Materials And Methods: Over a 14-year period (2002-2016), 1,304 PTBD procedures in 920 patients were recorded. The incidence of HA injury was determined, and possible associated risk factors were analyzed.

The use of a Colapinto TIPS Needle under cone-beam computed tomography guidance for true lumen re-entry in subintimal recanalization of chronic iliac artery occlusion.

Background: To report the technique and clinical outcome of subintimal re-entry in chronic iliac artery occlusion by using a Colapinto transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) needle under rotational angiography (cone-beam computed tomography; CT) imaging guidance.

Methods: Patients with chronic iliac artery occlusion with earlier failed attempts at conventional percutaneous recanalization during the past 5 years were enrolled in our study. In these patients, an ipsilateral femoral access route was routinely utilized in a retrograde fashion.